Beijing SportAccord Will Focus On Breaking Down Barriers

The Summit conference programme at the SportAccord 2020 World Sport & Business Summit will focus on the theme of ‘Breaking Down Barriers in the Ever-Expanding World of Sport,’ offering organisations that are seeking to expand their footprint in Asia a chance to learn from the sector’s most influential figures.

With sport’s No.1 global gathering taking place from 19-24 April 2020 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China, numerous big-name speakers from the host country are being lined up to provide unmissable insights on the Summit conference programme.

John Sun, the CEO of Alibaba Group-owned AGTech – an integrated technology and services company engaged in the lottery, mobile games and entertainment market with a focus on China and selected international markets – is the first speaker to be unveiled for the Summit. During the Summit conference on Wednesday, 22 April, Sun will provide a technology update from the heart of an ever-changing industry, while several other conference sessions will give delegates the inside track on making an impact in China and across the continent.

Reflecting on the session, Sun said: “I am honoured to be invited by SportAccord, a not-for profit global organisation that is focused on driving positive change internationally. AGTech shares common value and vision, a commitment to social and corporate responsibility, and to be recognized as a global leader in supporting our stakeholders, partners, & athletes to achieve their dreams in the sports community.”

Technology plays a key role in the evolution of sports. We have seen the long-awaited legalization of sports betting in the United States, nano-chips embedded as wearable device to enhance biometric analysis, and we are witnessing an exciting era where technology, driven by data, is evolving around individuals. AGTech’s focus in utilising data to transform the traditional lottery business, supporting 400,000 shop owners to run a more intelligent lottery business; supporting sports IP development through effective commercialization; engaging millions to the national fitness campaign, and most importantly motivating our future generation to live happy and healthy.

We share Alibaba’s mission “To make it easy to do business anywhere in the digital era”. AGTech will continue to influence through lottery and gaming to propel sports communities towards digitalization and intelligence, and most importantly, to make technology more enjoyable.”

The morning after the Summit conference sessions, Sun will be among the hosts of a number of Hub Breakout Sessions on Thursday, 23 April, giving delegates the opportunity to engage with expert speakers and gain valuable insights about the topics discussed the previous day on a personal basis in a relaxed, roundtable setting.

With SportAccord lining up further speaker announcements in the coming weeks, the Summit will feature a Keynote Address on China’s role in the ever-expanding world of sport, as well as a plenary panel session on future trends and their impact on sport and business internationally and within Asia. There will also be sessions dedicated to exploring the ultimate fan engagement tools and the social media landscape within Asia – and specifically how to identify, reach and engage with fans in an evolving landscape.

A new approach to commercial partnerships, including those in Asia, will also come under the microscope, while further sessions will explore crowdfunding and supporting athletes through technology and esports growth in Asia.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director, SportAccord, said: “We are thrilled with the calibre of speakers that will participate in the Summit conference at SportAccord, with more big names coming in the next couple weeks. Prestigious speakers like John Sun will undoubtedly provide crucial learnings for any delegates who want to make a greater impact across China and Asia as a whole.

“The Hub Breakout Sessions are an excellent engagement tool, and we are delighted that Mr. Sun, as well as a number of other leading decision-makers who are experts in their field, will follow up their sessions during the Summit by providing delegates with the opportunity to engage with them on a more personal basis.”

The SportAccord Summit will run alongside four other dedicated conference streams: LawAccord, CityAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord, against the backdrop of a bustling exhibition, high-level meetings and a host of social gatherings to enable networking in a relaxed environment.

Click here to register as a delegate and here to find out more information about attending.

To find out about becoming an official partner or exhibitor, contact sales@sportaccord.sport.

 

How The Return Of LaLiga Reached Over 92 Million People

As the 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season kicked off to a global TV audience, another huge demographic was discovering the competition online. Thanks to a worldwide campaign involving over 100 influencers, more than 92 million people were reached via social channels to help the league make the most memorable return possible.

This result, which also includes 16.4 million interactions, marks a 56% year-on-year rise in engagement for the #HolaLaLigaSantander campaign, an initiative from LaLiga’s digital team to build anticipation and entice new audiences to the competition on a global scale. Now in its second year, the campaign produces memorable and shareable ‘unboxing’ videos from an array of LaLiga ambassadors and global influencers, featuring the official match ball of the competition.

Read the full story here. 

Vidgo and Kiswe Launch Social TV Experience

Vidgo have launched a brand new mobile app, alongside Kiswe, that will deliver ‘a live social-streaming experience for Sports, Entertainment, Family, and Latino programming’.

This latest solution offered by Vidgo provides social features for live video that allows friends and family to interact together via a digital living room called “Hangs” while watching TV on their mobile devices.

“We’re thrilled to launch Social TV to support Vidgo’s incredible programming. Finally, watching TV on your phone no longer means that you have to watch it alone. With Vidgo, we’re making live sports and entertainment something you can once again share with friends, even when they’re apart,” said Mike Schabel, Kiswe Mobile’s CEO.

“Vidgo wants to bring friends and fans together to watch live sports and television in a fun and engaging manner.” said Shane Cannon, Vidgo CEO. “Social TV is finally here!”

Read the full press release through this link: https://www.kiswe.com/news/vidgo-launches-social-tv-experience-in-partnership-with-kiswe

New California Law Allows College Athletes To Make Money

California has defied the NCAA, the governing body of U.S. college sports, and opened the way for college athletes to hire agents and make money from endorsement deals with sneaker companies, soft drink makers, car dealerships and other sponsors, just like the pros.

The Associated Press Reports:

The first-in-the-nation law, signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and set to take effect in 2023, could upend amateur sports in the U.S. and trigger a legal challenge.

Newsom and others cast it as an attempt to bring more fairness to big-money college athletics and let players share in the wealth they create for their schools. Critics have long complained that universities are getting rich off the backs of athletes — often, black athletes struggling to get by financially.

“Other college students with a talent, whether it be literature, music, or technological innovation, can monetize their skill and hard work,” the governor said. “Student athletes, however, are prohibited from being compensated while their respective colleges and universities make millions, often at great risk to athletes’ health, academics and professional careers.”

Newsom predicted other states will introduce similar legislation.

The NCAA — which had called on him to veto the bill, arguing that it would destroy the distinction between amateurs and pros and give California an unfair recruiting advantage — said it is considering its next steps. It did not elaborate.

In a statement, the NCAA said it is working to revise its rules on making money off a player’s name and likeness. But it said any changes should be made at the national level through the NCAA, not through a patchwork of state laws.

California’s law applies to students at both public and private institutions — but not community colleges — in the nation’s most populous state. While the measure covers all sports, the big money is in football and basketball.

Student athletes won’t get salaries. But under the law, they can’t be stripped of their scholarships or kicked off the team if they sign endorsement deals.

There are some limitations: Athletes can’t enter into deals that conflict with their schools’ existing contracts. For example, if your university has a contract with Nike, you can’t sign with Under Armour.

The law represents another instance of California jumping out in front of other states when it comes to social and political change. The movement to allow student athletes to profit from their labours on the court or the playing field has been simmering for years, portrayed as a matter of economic fairness and civil rights.

“A majority of these athletes, it’s no secret, are African American,” said Sen. Steven Bradford, a co-author of the bill who is black. “It’s an issue of fairness, and it’s an issue that has been long overdue.”

Newsom tweeted a video showing him signing the law during a special episode of HBO’s “The Shop: Uninterrupted” alongside NBA superstar LeBron James, one of many professional athletes who have endorsed the measure.

James, whose 14-year-old son is a closely watched basketball prospect in Los Angeles and will be 18 when the law takes effect, exulted over its signing on Instagram, saying it will “change the lives for countless athletes who deserve it!”

He added: “NCAA, you got the next move. We can solve this for everyone!”

NBA rookie Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors also welcomed the new law. Six months ago, as a player at the University of Michigan, he hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer in the second round of the NCAA tournament as millions watched on TV.

“I know for sure I would have been using my name after that Houston shot,” he said.

His teammate, three-time NBA champion Draymond Green, went further.

“The NCAA is a dictatorship,” the former Michigan State star told reporters Monday. “I’m tired of seeing people get ripped off, and I’m tired of seeing these college athletes being ripped off.”

Before the governor signed the law, the NCAA threatened to bar California universities from competition, meaning powerhouses such as the University of Southern California, UCLA, Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley, could find themselves banned.

If that were to happen, California schools could form a new governing body and get schools from like-minded states to join, in a threat to the NCAA’s dominance.

But the governor, a former college baseball player, said he doubts the NCAA would kick California schools out, arguing that the state’s 40 million people and status as the world’s fifth-largest economy make it too big to lose.

The NCAA “can’t afford to do that,” he said.

Democratic state Sen. Nancy Skinner, the bill’s author, said it could especially help female athletes, who have limited opportunities for professional sports once they leave college.

“College is the primary time when the spotlight is on” them, Skinner said. “For women, this might be the only time they could make any money.”

NCAA rules bar players from hiring agents. The NCAA has also steadfastly refused to pay players in most cases. But a committee is studying other ways players could make money. Its report is expected in October.

The NCAA does let some athletes accept money in some instances. Tennis players can accept up to $10,000 in prize money per year, and Olympians can accept winnings from their competitions. Also, many schools pay players yearly cost-of-living stipends of $2,000 to $4,000.

“We just kind of joked every kid is going to want to go to college out here in Cali now,” Warriors forward Glenn Robinson III, who played college ball at Michigan, said of the new law.

“I think it’s time. A lot of people are waking up and starting to see how much money that these universities are making off of players,” he added. “Where I went to school, a lot of players couldn’t afford lunch.

AP photo

 

Baseball Attendance Drops For Fourth Straight Year

Major League Baseball’s average attendance dropped in the season that ended on Sunday, the fourth year of decline in a row.

The Baltimore Orioles drew 1.3 million fans, the lowest total at home in a full season since 1978. The Kansas City Royals attracted 1.5 million, the lowest total since 2006.

The San Francisco Giants dropped from 3.2 million fans at home to about 2.7 million, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays went from 2.3 million to about 1.8 million.

The declines come in season in which there were more strikeouts than hits for the second straight year as batters trying to hit home runs whiffed at a record pace for the 12th year in a row.

There were also signs of a growing gap in competitiveness, as four teams won 100 games in the same season, the first time that has ever happened, while four clubs lost at least 100 games for only the second time.

Enjoy this good analysis by Ronald Blum of The Associated Press.

Photo by Dallas Morning News.

Olympic Channel Plans Full Coverage Of Lausanne 2020 Winter YOG

With 100 days to go to the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lausanne 2020, the Olympic Channel has announced coverage plans for the third edition of the multi-sport event to be held from January 9-22 next year across, including live and on-demand event streaming, a dedicated YOG Channel and daily live show.

The Olympic Channel’s comprehensive multi-platform coverage will be available in all territories worldwide starting with the Opening Ceremony live.

Additional programming includes ‘digital-first’ content that is inspiring, entertaining, relevant and accessible to the participating athletes and that appeals to a global audience.

The Winter YOG are a multi-sport competition for young elite athletes from around the world between 15 and 18 years old and will feature an equal number of male and female athletes, with 1,880 athletes competing in eight sports across 16 disciplines in 81 medal events.

“The Winter Youth Olympic Games provide a fun format for young athletes to experience the Olympic spirit as they work toward achieving their goals and dreams,” said Mary Byrne, Editor in Chief of the IOC’s global Olympic Channel.

“The Olympic Channel’s coverage of Lausanne 2020 ensures a worldwide audience for the YOG and will kick off an important year for our team as our daily coverage of Olympic sports and athletes continues to build toward next summer’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”

Lausanne 2020 programming on the Olympic Channel will include:

  • Dedicated YOG Coverage: Viewers can watch a dedicated Winter Youth Olympic Games Channel daily on the Olympic Channel, YouTube and connected TV devices such as Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku. The dedicated streaming channel will feature both live and tape-delayed event coverage and daily highlights shows.
  • Live Streaming: Event coverage across the Winter YOG competition will available both live and on-demand on the Olympic Channel and its mobile apps. (The live streaming event schedule will be announced in due course.)
  • Daily Live Show: An action-packed daily live show will showcase news, trending stories, highlights and interviews in a round-up of the day’s events in a fun and interactive format. The live show will stream live on Facebook, Twitter and and olympicchannel.com.
  • Olympic Channel Podcast: Featuring insightful interviews with personalities from across the Olympic world, the Olympic Channel will produce a daily podcast during the Winter YOG for an in-depth look at the stories and competition taking place in Lausanne 2020.
  • Schedules and Results: To keep on top of the action at Lausanne 2020, fans will have access to competition schedules, live streaming schedules, results and medals table at olympicchannel.com.
  • Social Media: Fans can also follow the Olympic Channel’s coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to learn more about the sports featured at the Winter YOG as well as take part in the fun by interacting with athletes and for behind-the-scenes action.

 

Kiswe Mobile Wins Eurovision Innovation Award

iSportconnect is proud to announce that our partner Kiswe Mobile has been selected as a winner in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest Innovation Challenge. Dutch public broadcasting organisation NPO, in collaboration with AVROTROS, NOS, and the European Broadcasting Union, launched the initiative earlier this year in order to seek companies that could help enhance the experience for viewers and fans during Eurovision.

Kiswe was selected on Monday to be one out of three winners for the challenge, which will provide the opportunity to implement its remote production suite for the 2020 Eurovision competition. With its cloud-based technology, this will allow various commentators to create alternate streams in real-time, unlocking new audience segments and expanding the reach of Eurovision’s content.

“Traditionally, each country creates just one TV broadcast for its own territory. With Kiswe Mobile, broadcasters can create a large number of digital streams, each customized for a different target group. They can select different commentators such as social media influencers who interact with the public and show results directly in the stream,” Dutch public broadcaster NPO said in a press release.

“These winners are a good example of creative media companies that we like to work with to stimulate innovation in media. We will collaborate with them on how to make the Eurovision Songfestival more interactive and innovative,” stated Martijn van Dam, NPO Director of Innovation.

“NPO is setting the trend to make Eurosong more innovative and we are thrilled to work with them,” shared Jorre Belpaire (in photo), Head of Kiswe Europe. “With our cloud, we can make many alternative streams to reach and grow new viewer segments.”

Ten companies were invited to take part in the finals held yesterday in Amsterdam. Kiswe joins Sceenic UK and TNO as one of the winners of the award and looks forward to collaborating with Eurovision on this exciting endeavour.

Tebas: Time For Sports Industry To Improve Its Use Of Data

While some sectors of the sports industry may have neglected the importance and power of data over the years, this hasn’t been the case in Spanish football. LaLiga President Javier Tebas has outlined the league’s strategy for using data to improve all aspects of the organisation and the enjoyment of the beautiful game.

LaLiga has been working with data for several years already, something that Tebas explained is still uncommon in the sports industry during a speech at the World Football Summit in Madrid that was titled ‘LaLiga: The Pathway from Data to Artificial Intelligence in the Sports Industry’. “Data hasn’t been used much in the sports industry,” he told those in attendance. “Yet we have a timeline of four years working in the world of data.”

Read the full story here.

iSportconnect Signs Partnership With BBox Sports!

iSportconnect is pleased to announce the start of a new partnership with BBox Sports, a pioneering young company that has created a brand-new tool to boost fan engagement for football clubs and brands.

Lisbon-based BBox Sports enables fans to get official merchandise and collectibles from their clubs plus new and exclusive content only available with their BBox digital subscriptions via the BBox app and website. Whether it’s meeting players or tickets to a VIP area or an autographed figurine of your favourite star, BBox Sports boxes contain the magic of engagement.

BBox Sports already delivers thrill-of-a-lifetime experiences for fans of S.L. Benfica, champions of Portugal’s Primeira Liga.

“We look forward to working with iSportconnect so that more fans around the world can ‘unbox the excitement’ of their teams,” said BBox Sports Co-Founder and CEO Ivan da Silva Braz. “We bring fans closer to their club and players, and we know that the iSportconnect network will bring us closer to the sports businesses that can benefit from our product.”

BBox Sports Co-Founder and CMO Dulce Guarda added: “Our partnership with iSportconnect is an important step in our international development.”

“I am delighted to begin this partnership with BBox Sports and look forward to working with Ivan, Dulce and their team to grow their business,” said iSportconnect Founder and CEO Sree Varma. “We speak the same language of innovation and we all love what we do, so we’re already off to a great start together.”

About iSportconnect 

iSportconnect was launched in 2010 with the aim of bringing together sports business professionals around the world in a sports business networking community enabling them to meet one another, find information and obtain access to a wide range of relevant services. The platform is now the largest global private network of sport business executives, where membership is exclusive and follows a strict door policy.

The Technology Evolution In Rugby

While football is currently going through a rocky period as VAR is being rolled out into almost all major competitions around the world, at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, technological advancements like the video referee have been commonplace

Innovation in the game of rugby has skyrocketed in the last 20 years and whilst many of the tech-led innovations have related to fan engagement and sponsorship activation, the topic of player welfare has been forefront. The issue of head trauma in sport generally, and rugby specifically, has never been so prevalent, with governing bodies across the board becoming aware of their responsibilities in this area. Whilst concussion is no longer the preserve of traditional contact sports, it is fair to say that rugby, with NFL, has led the charge in tackling this important topic.

This openness to innovation isn’t new, as the timeline from the Sports Technology Awards – the leading global celebration of tech-led innovation in sports – shows.

Albeit in a slightly sporadic way, the game has constantly developed and continually updated the use of technology over the past century, and been much more open to modernisation in comparison to sports like football and cricket, with India initially refusing to accept DRS for a number of years. Rugby’s first change was the introduction of scrum caps, originally debuted all the way back in 1906 in a fixture between South Africa and Wales. Studded boots were then introduced in 1924 and the first televised international match saw Scotland beat England in 1939.

Since the turn of the millennium development of technology has been much faster for the game, with the TMO being introduced in 2001 and GPS tracking devices worn by England in match shirts in 2011. Even this year, gumshield technology became available that can now directly transmit head impact data to medical staff, something very important with concussion awareness now being more prevalent than ever.

Whilst the issue of head trauma continues to dominate it is surprising that a standardized solution has yet to be found. As the commitment to professionalism for women players grows as well, alongside female propensity to greater damage from injury, so will the requirement for gender equality in welfare.

So, what does the tech-led future hold for all players? In truth advances in this area have been sporadic but as all stakeholders, especially players, become better educated on the long-term repercussions of head trauma, technology, such as tracking analytics, improved head protection and gum shields, is more prevalent. Many female players, as the links between injury and menstruation are better understood, are opting to use period tracker apps, the first of which hit the mass market in 2015.

The big game-changer is likely to be saliva testing but currently it is still relatively early-stage. One key barrier to a quantum leap forward is that NGBs need tech to be standardized, scalable and easy-to-adopt; until this is forthcoming, World Rugby’s main option will be judicious guidelines and law-making.

More information about the Sports Technology Awards and STA Group can be found at www.sportstechgroup.org